How to apply for a grant from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF +)?

Verified 27 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The European Social Fund+ (ESF+) is a European Union fund. It is designed to support job creation and improve people's job prospects. It provides support for projects carried out by public or private bodies and always co-finances with other public and/or private funders. Applications for funding are open to associations and companies. The ESF+ does not finance individual aid to individuals.

The main purpose of the ESF+ is to contribute to improving the prospects for the professional and social integration of European citizens, in particular those in a situation of precariousness or exclusion.

The ESF+ programming shall operate over a period of 7 years. The 2021-2027 programming is ongoing.

In France, the ESF+ is implemented by the State (up to 65% of the national envelope) and the regional councils (up to 35% of the envelope). Each pilot an ESF+ program as a ‘managing authority’ on topics falling within its legal remit.

State

The State supports employment and social and vocational inclusion projects with the ESF+ through the National Employment, Inclusion, Youth and Skills Program.

The State also pilots the national ESF+ program "European food aid support" dedicated to the purchase of food for the most deprived.

Regional Councils

The regional councils are deploying the ESF+ through their regional programs in the fields of vocational training for jobseekers, lifelong guidance, support for company creation and support for the social and solidarity economy (SSE).

In any case

The ESF+ intervenes only in co-financing, i.e. project promoters need to mobilize public or private co-financing or their own resources to complement their project financing plan.

The level of ESF+ co-financing of a project varies from region to region. The regions are divided into 3 categories:

  • More developed regions where the share of ESF+ funds in project co-financing can reach 40% of the total project cost
  • Transition regions where the co-financing rate can reach 60%
  • Less developed regions where the co-financing rate can reach 85%.

To apply for funding, the relevant managing authority must be contacted.

Some requests can be made at any time, while others must respond to calls for projects.

Applications for the national employment, inclusion, youth and skills program are made through calls for projects published on the website fse.gouv.fr.

For the regional programs, detailed information is available on the sites of the regional councils:

Who shall I contact

In all cases:

  • The approach is free. No case fees is to be paid to file an application.
  • A project cannot already be completed at the time of application.
  • The files are reviewed by a programming committee, which gives a favorable or unfavorable opinion.
  • If the opinion is positive, a grant agreement is signed.

The ESF+ shall reimburse the project owner's expenses after the verification carried out by the managing department in charge of his file.

An advance may be granted when the agreement is signed.

On-site visits can be carried out to check that the project is progressing properly.